Editing Openai/68fe5eb0-d380-800a-901e-85447e04e2e0 (section)

===== Alternative Balance is a membership program that provides liability coverage along with a suite of business support benefits. It’s popular among multi-disciplinary professionals in wellness (they cover over 900 professions ranging from massage to personal trainers to dance instructors)alternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=Our%20service%20plans%20provide%20insurance,See%20Full%20List|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>. The membership is $269/year and includes your insurance and member benefitsalternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=PROFESSIONAL%20MEMBERSHIP%20%24269%20per%20year,Buy%20Now|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>. Notably, Alternative Balance’s insurance has recently increased its limits: it now offers $2 M per occurrence for both professional and general liability, with a $4 M aggregatealternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=%2A%20,Professional%20Liability|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>. However, it uses a hybrid policy form – General Liability is occurrence-form, but Professional Liability is claims-madealternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=%242%20Million%20Each%20Occurrence%20%2F,4%20Million%20Aggregate|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>. This means a slip-and-fall claim is covered regardless of when filed (if the incident occurred while you were insured), but a malpractice claim (e.g. injury during a massage) must be filed while you have an active policy to be covered. This is somewhat unique and worth noting; if you leave Alternative Balance, you might need tail coverage for the pro liability portion. =====

Despite that caveat, Alternative Balance packs in a lot of extras at no additional charge: it automatically includes $10,000 of Business Personal Property coverage (to cover your equipment/supplies) and $10,000 of Business Interruption coverage (for lost income if your business is halted by a covered loss)alternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=%2A%20,BUSINESS%20INTERRUPTION%20INSURANCE|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>alternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=,your%20income%20and%20expenses|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>. These coverages usually cost extra elsewhere (e.g. ABMP charges $95 for $10k equipment coveragemblexguide.com<ref>{{cite web|title=mblexguide.com|url=https://mblexguide.com/massage-liability-insurance-comparison/#:~:text=,Included%20Included%20N%2FA%2B%2435%20for%20cupping|publisher=mblexguide.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>), but with AB they’re bundled “free.” The policy also covers damage to premises rented to you up to $300,000 (higher than the $100k standard many others have)alternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=%2A%20,Premises%20Rented%20to%20You|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>.

Benefits: The Alternative Balance membership is very holistic. Members have access to monthly business-building webinars, marketing and client forms, networking through a private group, and even wellness resources for practitionersalternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=,EXCLUSIVE%20ACCESS|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>. They highlight being a 2024/2025 BBB Torch Award finalist for ethicsalternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=,Torch%20Awards%20for%20Ethics%20Finalist|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>, reflecting their focus on community. Another big plus: they offer coverage for working abroad – if you’re based in the U.S. but teach a class overseas or provide massage on a retreat, you’re covered internationallyalternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=,recorded%20content|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref> (most other plans exclude any work outside the U.S.). If you have employees, you can add them to your policy ($99/year per W-2 employee) easilyalternativebalance.com<ref>{{cite web|title=alternativebalance.com|url=https://alternativebalance.com/pricing-and-coverage-details/#:~:text=We%20are%20proud%20to%20be,Torch%20Awards%20for%20Ethics%20Finalist|publisher=alternativebalance.com|access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref>. Also, unlike most others, Alternative Balance can cover some unusual modalities (they mention 900+ modalities, which likely includes things like fire dancing, animal massage, etc. that specialized practitioners might need).

Exclusions: Given their broad coverage menu, there are few modality exclusions, but note that some high-risk activities (perhaps piercing, certain beauty treatments) might require a different program. They explicitly state professional liability is claims-made – so if you cancel membership, claims filed afterward won’t be covered. They don’t advertise identity theft protection or standalone cyber liability; however, since many AB members are in wellness fields less prone to data breaches, this might not be a big concern. If needed, you’d seek separate cyber coverage.

Ideal for: The practitioner who wants an all-in-one business support system with their insurance. At $269, it’s pricier than bare-bones plans, but when you factor in the included equipment insurance, the international coverage, and the resources, it provides good value. For example, if you need both liability and gear coverage, AB might actually save you money versus buying a cheaper liability plan plus a separate inland marine policy for your table and supplies. It’s also great for those who have a mix of services (massage, yoga, cosmetology, etc.) – one membership covers all, without having to join multiple associations.